Repurposing at Home & Work
By now, everyone and their great aunt have heard about the 3 R’s: Reduce, Reuse/Repurpose, and Recycle. But how many people actually utilize them in their everyday life? Hint: probably not as many as should! Let’s talk about ways that regular people and businesses can reuse and repurpose at home and at work objects into something new that will work for a totally different reason it was designed to!
Here is one that people can use at home and at work. Old clothes or uniforms that are too ragged up to be donated? Cut the used material into small squares and use them as dusters or towels. You can also turn these old materials into bathmats or small rugs by braiding the shirts or pieces of material and sewing the braids together. Additionally, you can turn old wife beaters into grocery bags by sewing the bottom seams together. Turning shirts into grocery bags will also help you reduce your plastic bag waste by using a reusable bag. (Baker, 2019)
Do you have old jars from jarred food? Wash the jar out and turn it into a multitude of different things: makeup brush holder, drinking glass, candle jar, toothbrush holder, pencil holder or another small stationery holder. By repurposing jars, you can reduce the amount of glass micro pieces that get dropped into landfills, and the ocean. (Baker, 2019)
At work, it can be a little harder to plan out some DIY projects to reuse products. Paper is a great place to start. Work may often have old envelopes or paper that may just be recycled. However, start reusing the paper! Can the envelope be reused as an envelope to mail? Can it be repurposed to hold business cards or small stationery, such as pins or paperclips? Can the old paper be going to be recycled to be used to write down small notes or ideas? Keep a small folder of “scrap” paper for those on the go paper needs. Reusing paper is a great way to start your reusing journey! Paper is often not recycled properly, meaning on occasion it cannot be fully recycled and often end up in the landfill.
Further, at work, consider implementing an upcycling station. When an employee or manager has stationary they no longer need or want they can bring those products to the communal upcycling station for other employees or managers to use. This way others in the office can use products that are “new” to them but were previously loved by others. (Clean River, 2019)
To find out more ways to reuse and repurpose check out: https://www.boredpanda.com/creative-reuse-upcycling-repurposing-ideas/?utm_source=google&utm_medium=organic&utm_campaign=organic
10 Tips To Increase Your Office Recycling. (2019, May 27). Retrieved from https://cleanriver.com/blog-tips-increase-office-recycling/
Baker, L. (2019, November 5). 10 Home Items You Can Reuse Over and Over Again. Retrieved from https://www.onegreenplanet.org/lifestyle/home-items-you-can-reuse-over-and-over-again/
D., L. (2019, March 13). 30 Creative Ways to Repurpose & Reuse Old Stuff. Retrieved from https://www.boredpanda.com/creative-reuse-upcycling-repurposing-ideas/?utm_source=google&utm_medium=organic&utm_campaign=organic
